How To Save Money And Drive Green

SAVING MONEY - HOW TO DRIVE GREEN

Conserving our natural resources and going green has become a global effort.

Today, more than ever, everyone's looking for more tips on how to go green.

Did you know that there are many driving tips that can also help you save money and have a positive effect on the environment?

It's surprising that there are many little tricks to learn about saving money even after you've left the pump and spent your wad of cash for gas!

Let's explore some real life driving tips that can hopefully help you get more bang for your buck on that fuel in your tank.

TIPS AND TRICKS ON GREEN DRIVING

• Don't leave home! Strange as it may seem, this is the biggest money saver of all time. Think about someone in my situation. I work from home and have been doing this for over 20 years.....doing medical transcription. That is one of the most endearing qualities about my job. Think of all the gas money I've saved!!!
  
  If you can telecommute, do it. Or even if you can split some of your workday to working at home, you've saved that much in gas.

• Small trips equal big bucks. Think about if you really need to run errands one at a time. Do you know how much fuel that is consuming?
  
  Make a list and check it twice. Discipline yourself not to do 1-errand runs. Do multiple things on 1 run and save gas....save money!

• They long to be close to you. Carpool. It's a great money saving tip and helps you get to know your coworkers. You can even carpool with folks who work around the same vicinity....they don't have to be from the same office.
  
  If you figure you only drive every 2nd day, you're going to save more than half your allowance in gas...again saving money.

• Eight days a week. Consider working four 10s or switch to a schedule that has you working less days. Again, saving money, saving gas, putting less cars on the road, less traffic.
  
  Working different shifts when traffic is at a minimum also saves gas and money.
  
  Driving back roads to work instead of using main thoroughfares also saves the environment and dollars!

• Less is more. If you carry an extra 100 pounds of weight in your car, let's say bikes, bike racks, just 'stuff' you have in the car that's not necessary, you lose 2% of your fuel efficiency. You pay more and get less.

• You can go downtown. Remember that old fashioned thing called the bus? Buses run just about everywhere and for those who can't take a bus, consider the train or any other form of public transportation to get you from here to there.
  
  You help the environment, decrease traffic, and you end up saving money! Think of all the things that you can do while you're riding, too....making efficient use of your time!

MORE GREEN DRIVING TIPS

• Share and share alike.  Cars are available to 'share' or you can actually adapt this concept yourself with people you know.  Maybe someone has a car and someone doesn't but one person needs to run errands and another one is staying home.  Share the wealth, share the car, and save money! 
  
  There are also organizations that let you share cars so check it out.

• Pump me up.  If you don't have your tires inflated to the proper poundage, you're losing money.  How much?  You have just decreased your fuel efficiency by 6%.  Check your manual and inflate to the right pressure.

• Speed kills.  It is said that 60 miles per hour on the freeway or back roads is the best speed to maximize your fuel efficiency.  Every mile over 60 that you go, you decrease your fuel efficiency by 6%. 
  
  Coasting to a stop saves gas rather than zooming up to the yellow or red light. 
  
  Cruise control saves money, and decreasing the amount of air conditioning and heat that you use also makes your fuel go further. 
  
  For some really interesting reading, check out 'Hypermilers' who get up to 75 miles per gallon just by changing their driving habits.  No kidding!

• The real green.  Now if you are totally green from head to toe (Kermit), you can do the real deal and go hybrid.  You even get some incentives to do that so it might be worth looking into. 
  
  The other option is to try alternative fuels.  They are becoming more popular so there are more and more stations that offer them. 
  
  Biodiesel is a fuel that is made of grease and oil/plant and animal oils but this fuel while eco-friendly decreases your mileage. 
  
  Ethanol is a plant-based fuel but it's not for every engine. 

GOING GREEN - HOW TO DRIVE CONSERVATIVELY

In short, whatever things you can do to keep money in your wallet and help the environment, hats off to you and thank you from me!

I believe in treating our resources like they are precious jewels because they are.

We have to think about what will become of our children and their children one day if we continue to abuse the planet like we do.

It is nice to know that there are many steps we can take today to ensure a better tomorrow....and it doesn't hurt that these tips can actually save you green.

Go green and save some green!

Please leave some tips on driving green below so we can all learn more green driving tips.

Also be sure and watch the video on driving green!